Superlative with kõige
Superlative (Kõige)
To say "the most" or "-est", put kõige before the comparative: kõige suurem (the biggest), kõige ilusam (the most beautiful), kõige parem (the best).
How It Works
How to build it
- suur → suurem → kõige suurem (the biggest)
- pikk → pikem → kõige pikem (the tallest)
- hea → parem → kõige parem (the best)
The group comes first
The group you choose from often stands before the superlative in the genitive: Eesti kõige suurem linn (the biggest city in Estonia), klassi kõige pikem poiss (the tallest boy in the class).
kõige with adverbs
kõige also works with comparative adverbs: kõige rohkem (the most), kõige kiiremini (the fastest). See comparative adverbs.
With case endings
kõige stays the same, and the comparative takes the ending: Me elame kõige vanemas majas. (We live in the oldest house.)
The short superlative
Many adjectives also have a one-word form ending in -im: suurim (biggest), parim (best). It means the same but sounds more written. See short superlative.
Examples (6)
- Tallinn on Eesti kõige suurem linn.
Tallinn is the biggest city in Estonia.
Word by Word: Tallinn is Estonia(GEN) of-all bigger city
- See on kõige parem kohvik.
This is the best café.
Word by Word: this is of-all better café
- Ta on klassi kõige pikem poiss.
He is the tallest boy in the class.
Word by Word: he is class(GEN) of-all taller boy
- Me elame kõige vanemas majas.
We live in the oldest house.
Word by Word: we live of-all older(INE) house(INE)
kõige stays the same, while vanem and maja both take the inessive -s.
- Kõige rohkem meeldib mulle suvi.
I like summer the most.
Word by Word: of-all more pleases me-to summer
- Kes jooksis kõige kiiremini?
Who ran the fastest?
Word by Word: who ran of-all faster
Common Mistakes
Putting kõige before the basic form.
Tallinn on kõige suur linn.Tallinn on kõige suurem linn.kõige always goes with the comparative form: kõige suurem.
Using an adjective instead of an adverb after kõige.
Kes jooksis kõige kiire?Kes jooksis kõige kiiremini?When you describe how someone does something, use the comparative adverb: kõige kiiremini.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The superlative puts kõige before the comparative.
Related Patterns
- Short Superlative (-im)
The one-word superlative, such as suurim, means the same thing.
Level 4 - Comparing with kui
The comparative with kui compares two things. The superlative compares one thing with all the rest.
Level 2 - Comparative Adverbs (-mini)Comparative Adverbs
kõige also goes with adverbs such as kiiremini.
Level 4 - kõik / iga / mõniAll, Every, Some
kõige is a form of kõik (all).
Level 2 - Adjectives Agree with the Noun
The comparative after kõige agrees with its noun in case.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Superlative with kõige in Bubblegum
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